‘Such a good student and fighter!’

Aanand L Rai on why Yami Gautam Dhar is a force to watch in Nayyi Navelli

Aanand L Rai’s upcoming film, Nayyi Navelli, is as  unconventional as they come. The film stars Yami Gautam Dhar and is set against the backdrop of a madcap family and an extraordinary turn of events. In the film, it is later revealed how a newly married Yami is actually also a slayer of demons.  

Speaking about the strong female characters in Nayyi Navelli and the real-life influences that shaped them, Rai shared, “Many of the characters we have created are inspired by the people we have seen around us. If I speak about my mother, my wife, or Himanshu’s mother, we have all grown up seeing strong women within our families. These are the personalities who have held us together, given us strength, and shaped who we are. That influence has always stayed with us, and it is reflected in this film as well.” 

He further added, “I was telling Yami that, ‘You’re such a good student and such a fighter, I feel like there’s so much I can learn from you.’ So, these are not characters that we have simply created from our imagination. They are inspired by the women we see around us, the women whose strength and individuality we experience every day. This film is, in many ways, a thank you to all the women around us.” Directed by Balaji Mohan, the film will release on Oct 16.